Auger-type drill bit



Dec. 11, 1951 o.- PHIPPS AUGER-TYPE DRILL BIT Filed Oct. 29, 1946 O IL mJm

9 N m m a 5. v R w QMEMS Q w Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE AUGER-TYPE DRILL BIT Orville Phipps, Adams County, near Denver,0010.

Application October 29, 1946, Serial No. 706,365

1 Claim.

. 1 This invention relates to auger-type drills adapted for use in thebore-developing penetration of relativelyref-ractorymaterials andnatural strata, such as rock, coal, mineralized beds, concrete, and thelike, and more particularly to bit of an auger :drill.

A further objectof the invention :is to provide an improved auger drillbit particularly adapted for the efiicientdevelopment of bores atvarious angles t thevertical.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved auger drillbit that is self-piloted .for the development of straight boresregardless of bore depth orfinclination angle. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved auger drillbit of enhanced penetrative effect and bore-scavenging characteristic.

.A further object of the invention .is to provide an improvedauger'drill bit free from tendency to .bind in the bore underdevelopment, operatively productive of a smooth right-cylindrical boreof uniform diameter, and cooperative with conventional auger-type drillstock for the rapid and eifective clearing of drillings from the borebeing drilled.

A further object of the invention is'to provide an improved augerdri'll'bit that is simple and inexpensive .ofmanufacture, readilyremovable and replaceable as the cutting tip of an actuating stringline, characterized by high operative efi'iciency throughout a long lifeof practical use, and susceptible of simple and convenient repetitlousrehabilitation" in the field. With the lioregoing and otherob'jects inview, .my invention consists zinthe construction, ar- :rangement, andcombination of elements here'- inaftervset forth, pointed out :in myclaims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing; in which- Figure 1is a plan view of'the cutting end or faceof atypical bit constructionembodying the principles of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation:of the showing according to Figure 1 as :operativelyassociated with alength of conventional auger-:stockshown zinebroken lines. Fig ure+3 isia'xz'section longitudinally throughtheiconistruction accordingto theprecedingfigures', taken substantially on the indicated line 3-3 ofFigure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail section taken through andsubstantially axially of a centering or pilot element adapted forremoval and replacement relative to the bit assembly.

A shown in the drawing, the improved bit is a unitary assembly ofelements adapted for removable and replaceable association with and asan outer terminal on a line or section of conventional, spirally-flutedauger stock or stem, illustration of the latter being omitted from thedrawing as being, in and of itself, no part of the present invention.

The improved bit ha a unitary, homogeneous, body portion l0 formed fromany suitable tractable or readily-worked material, such as steel, in anyconvenient or desired manner, as by means of forging, pressing, rolling,or the like, to present the form and interrelation of constituentelements illustrated and hereinafter specified. A central portion of thebody [0 is formed as'a generally circular web I 0 concentric with theultimate bit axis, of suitable thickness in the direction of said axis,and preferably conically tapered from an outer greater and toward aninner lesser base. Centrally of the body web lesser base, an integralmounting stem ll, suitably angular in cross section, projects axially ofthe bit assembly and away from the body web greater base, said stem I Ibeing sized and shaped to enter and be telescopically received within anend-opening socket formed for such purpose axially of one end of theactuating stem or stock ll" of the conventional drilling apparatus. Anysuitable'means, such as a hole I2 laterally traversing the stem I! forregistration with correspondingly-located holes in they actuatingstem'or stock, may be provided to receive means, such as a tapered pin,for separably interlocking the stem II and body I0 to and in mountedrelation on the end of the associated actuating means. Integral with,uniformly spaced angularly about, and correspondingly disposed relativeto the greater 'b'aseaside or the body web, a plurality, in thisinstance three, of identical fingers I3 project parallel to the axis ofthe assembly and in a direction opposite to the disposition of the steml I; Each of the fingers 13 defines an outer edge margin l3a parallelingthe assembly axis and at a radial distance therefrom corresponding tothe radius of the desired bore, an axially-parallel,substantially-radial plane face I319 perpendicular to therdirection ofbit rotation and having a width "inwardly from said outer edge margin[3a on the order drone-half to three-quarters of the radius determinedby said edge marg an ially-parallel, inner plane face #30 perpendicularto said substantially-radial face I3b at the inner margin of the latter,and an arcuate outer surface I3d eccentric to the assembly and thedesired bore so disposed as to position its margin I3e trailing in thedirection of bit rotation more nearly adjacent the bit assembly centerthan its leading margin I3a. Inner ends of the fingers I 3 base solidlyin and upstand perpendicularly from the body ID Web portion I andarcuate marginal segments of the latter between the trailing margin I36of one said finger and the leading margin I3a of the next succeedingfinger are dubbed away to planes substantially tangent to the leadingfinger arcuate outer surface I3d at the trailing margin I3e of saidfinger to provide marginally-o en areas through which drillings mayfreely pass from the working face and to the auger stem when the bit isoperating within and for the extension of a bore. Outer ends of thefingers I3 are worked to recede, either arcuately or along a bevelplane, in trailing relation with a forwardly-directed cutting edgemargin I3) laterally traversing the radially-disposed, plane forwardface I31) of each finger perpendicular to the bit assem ly axis, so thatthe said cutting ed e margins l3f of the fingers lie in a common planedefining a working face perpendicular to the drill assembly and boreaxis, and corresponding inner corners of said finger outer ends arepreferably relieved to inwardly and axially converging surfaces I 4which interrupt the associated fin er cutting edge margin I3 forinclination of the inward portion thereof out of the common working faceplane at an angle toward the body web l0.

Power rotation of the bit assembly about its axis with the finger I3outer ends in pressure engagement against the material to be penetratedis effective through the finger outer end cutting edge margins I3f todevelop an annular channel in said material having an outer diameterdetermined by the spacing of the finger outer edge margins I3a radiallyof the bit and an inner diameter determined by the radial disposition ofthe finger inner edge margins determined by intersection of the fingerplane faces I 3b and I 30, the floor of said channel having an outerannular portion perpendicular to the bore axis and an inner annularportion of outwardly-directed, fiat cone form; the eccentric dispositionof the finger arcuate exterior surfaces I 3d assuring ample clearancefor the fingers I3 Within the channel cut by the finger working edges I3and thereby eliminating any tendency of the assembly to bind within thebore. When susceptible of convenient, economical working and forming byconventiona tools and methods, the material from which the body I0,shank II, and fingers I3 is formed will not long successfully resist, nomatter how tempered and treated, the abrasive forces tending to deformand wear away the working margins of the bit, particularly when incontact with highly refractory material, hence a significant feature ofthe invention is the arming of the bit working margins with insertblocks of tough, hard, abrasive-resistant material having a wearcharacteristi v s ch as will impart long useful life to the bit. Variousa loys highly res stant to wear are presently known and available, oneof which, in particular, a nonerrous alloy compounded from tungsten,titanium, tantalum, nickel, and

ment to other metals by means of welding and brazing, and capable ofbeing ground to desired form and shape, hence is well adapted for use toarm the cutting members of the improved bit. Whatever be the materialemployed for the bitarming elements, fiat blocks I5 of the selectedmaterial are provided in a uniform thickness suited to resist theoperative stresses contemplated, a width corresponding with or slightlyexceeding that of the finger I3 radially-disposed plane faces I32), anda length on the order of one-half the finger I3 length, one such block[5 being provided for each of the bit fingers I3, and each of saidblocks is seated within an angular notch or recess formed for itsreception in laterally-traversing relation across and to open throughthe opposite side margins and outer end of each finger I3radially-disposed plane face I31: and is therein secured by welding orbrazing of its surfaces and margins to the finger I3 material therebyengaged. As mounted and secured in filling relation with itsaccommodating recess, each block I5 preferably presents a straight innerend based against the recess shoulder along a line perpendicular to thebit assembly axis, a fiat face paralleling said axis and leading in thedirection of bit rotation, inner and outer side or edge margins smoothlyconforming with the adjacent finger I3 surfaces I30 and I3d, and an endor cutting edge margin conforming with the finger outer end leadingmargin I3 as above described, it being expedient to slightly bevel theworking end of each block to provide a forwardly-directed chisel edgeproductive of advantageous bite during operation of the tool, and toslightly bevel or relieve outer corners of the blocks I5, as indicatedat I6. As so mounted, the blocks I5 are rigidly aflixed to and securelybacked by the outer finger I3 portions in position to dispose the blockend and side margins as the actual cutting and channel-forming agents oftheir respective fingers, the special alloy material from which saidblocks are formed withstanding operative wear and abrasive effects tomaintain the cutting efficiency of the tool and protecting the lessresistant metal of the body, shank, and fingers from deforming contactwith the material being penetrated, any appreciable wear adverselyaffecting the cutting efiiciency of the block working margins beingsubject to convenient correction through simple regrinding operationsreadily accomplished in the field.

As above pointed out, the action of the fingers I3 is productive of anannular channel surrounding and defining a cylindrical core or plug ofthe material being penetrated, and an operatively significant feature ofthe invention is the provision of a removably and replaceably associatedpilot or centering element axially of the bit assembly for the removalof said core or plug in advance of the said fingers and the development01' a short pilot'bore centrally of the principal bore face for thecentering and guiding of the bit assembly and for facilitation of thework to be done by the finger blocks I5. To mount and operatively re atethe pilot or centering element of the invention on and with otherelements of the bit assembly. an exernally-threaded boss I I is formedintegrally with and to proiect axially from the greater base area of thebody web I0 and hence within and uniformly spaced from each of the groupof fingers I3. Removably and replaceably engageable with said boss H, acylin drical member I8 is formed to a length materially xceeding that ofthe fingers I3 from tractable metal similar to or the same as that usedin the body, shank, and finger elements, and to a diameter considerablyless than that of the finger l3 inner edge margin orbit but greater thanthe diameter of the boss l1, so that an internallythreaded axial boreopening through one end of said member I8 may telescopically receive andcooperate with said boss to mount said member to project centrally ofthe bit assembly within and to extend outwardly beyond the outer endplane of the grouped fingers [3. The end of the member l8 remote fromthat intersected by its mounting bore is smoothly rounded, or domed, andis diametrically traversed by a relativelydeep, side and end openingslot sized to receive and seat an insert block 19 of special alloymaterial the same as or similar to that from which the blocks l5 arecomprised, said block I9 entirely filling the said member notch and atits inner or base end exceeding in width the diameter of the member 18to provide wings oppositely projecting radially beyond the adjacentmember surfaces a distance significant in operation of the bit and suchas will permit free mounting and unmounting rotation of the memberwithin the finger I 3 group. The axially-projected outer edge margin ofthe block I9 is ground to a smooth arc tangent to the member l8 end atthe axis of the unit, and inner corners of said block are advantageouslyinwardly beveled, so that, the pitch direction of the mounting threadsbeing properly related with the direction of bit rotation, actuation ofthe bit revolves the member l8 about its axis for the development ofcutting effect through the block [9 arcuate end and axially-parallelcorners and consequent generation of a pilot bore, of a size to freelyaccommodate the said member, centrally and in advance of the ultimatebore face, such removal of material from the center of the ultimate boreface expediting and very much facilitating the work of the block-armedfingers I3. The axial depth of the block l9 conveniently equals thecorresponding dimension of the blocks I5 to provide for repetitiousdressing of the various working elements of the tool throughout auniform useful life, but impairment or abnormally rapid wear of themember [8 working end is of no material consequence in view of theremovable and replaceable mounting of said member.

Correlated with and to enhance the action of the drill stern spiralfiutings in the removal of chips and drillings from the bore underdevelopment, a spiral flange section 20 is formed integrally with and toextend outwardly from an inwardly-extended base of one of the fingers 13in such position as to register with and complement a screw element ofthe auger stem wherewith the bit assembly is associated, said section 20attaining a maximum diameter the same as that of the complementary augerelement and being related to the angularity of the bit shank H in thesame manner as its complementary auger element is related to theangularity of the shank-receiving socket.

Since many changes, variations, and modifications in the specific form,construction, and arrangement, of the elements shown and described maybe had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I Wish to beunderstood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claim,rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoingdescription.

I claim as my invention:

In a drill bit of the character described having a body formed with amounting stem extending axially from one of its sides, fingers integralwith and spaced marginally about the side of said body remote from saidstem to outstand in parallel, radially-ofiset relation with the bodyaxis and in a direction opposite to the stem extension, insert blocks ofhard, tough, abrasive-resistant alloy material, such astungsten-carbide, fixedly arming the tips of said fingers, and athreaded boss formed integrally with and centrally of said body tooutstand axially therefrom on the same side of the body as and inspaced, parallel relation with said fingers, a pilot bit memberseparably carried by said boss, said member comprising a straight,cylindrical, rigid element of a length exceeding the projection of saidfingers from the body, a threaded socket coaxially intersecting one endof said element coactable with and to receive said boss to mount saidelement on and axially of said body on the same side of the latter asand in spaced parallelism with said fingers, a domed tip defining theend of said element remote from said socket, a slot diametrically of andopening axially of the element through said domed tip, andan insertblock of hard, tough, abrasive-resistant alloy material, such astungsten-carbide, fixedly seated in and to fill said slot with itsaxially-projected edge tangent to the domed tip at the axis of theelement and its opposite side margins similarly projecting laterally ofand beyond the element as exposed cutting edges spacedly paralleling theadjacent element wall.

ORVILLE PHIPPS.

, file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,513 Hardsocg June 1, 1909923,514 Hardsocg June 1, 1909 991,830 Clements May 9, 1911 1,387,733Midgett Aug. 16, 1921 2,101,376 Voigtlander Dec. 7, 1937 2,239,461 MannApr. 22, 1941 2,294,004 Serafino Aug. 25, 1942 2,339,104 Phipps Jan. 11,1944 2,461,305 Winn Feb. 8, 1949 2,464,781 Baker Mar. 22, 1949 2,532,783Phipps Dec. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,596 GreatBritain June 30, 1932 409,385 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1934 472,587 GreatBritain Sept. 27, 1937 500,147 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1939 518,747 GreatBritain Mar. 6, 1940 528,593 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1940

